North Central

Location

The North Central Section includes the following Texas counties:  Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Fannin, Freestone, Grayson, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, and Rockwall.

Officers

Bylaws

• North Central Section Bylaws (PDF)

Announcements

The North Central Texas Section Boards meets via Teams every month. The next meeting is Friday, June 23rd at 12:00 PM. Please contact Staron Faucher for more information or to listen into these meetings.

Want to subscribe to the APATX North Central Section newsletter, where we bring you the news you need to know? Make sure you update your contact information on the APA website under “MyAPA”.

Be sure to check out our content on Facebook, and LinkedIn as well for more ways to stay in touch.

If you have any upcoming events, job announcements, or anything else you'd like to promote, please contact Bobie Guo.

Community Service at Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity

TXAPA North Central Section is organizing a community service event on Friday, June 9th, from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM at Lake Highland!

Help Us Build:

It takes individuals, leaders, and groups like you, who are willing to give a day, a month, or several days a year to help turn a truck load of construction materials into a new home for a deserving family. Building a home alongside other volunteers and partner families is a great way to be part of something bigger.

Habitat sets the stage for families and volunteers to come together. A family partners with Habitat and contributes their “sweat equity” or their own labor. A volunteer offers them a hand up, providing the support and the “muscle” that often means homes can be built at considerably lower costs. At a Habitat build site, relationships are formed and friends are made.

Need to know:

• There is a participation limit on this project. Additional guests will not be accommodated.

• Volunteers are to meet June 9th, 2023, 9:30 am-1:30 am at Lake Highlands:

• LAKE HIGHLANDS
  

  6500 Skillman St.
  Dallas, TX 75231

  Please follow these instructions to create your account, submit your background check, and sign up for the above shift to volunteer.  

  Please note: all volunteers must be registered in our Volunteer Portal before volunteering, and volunteers 18+ will be prompted to complete a background check. For the safety of our volunteers, staff, and home buyers, volunteers 18+ who have not completed a background check will not be permitted on site. Please see attached Sterling Privacy and Information Security guide regarding your background check.

  Instructions are listed below to walk you through creating an account and registering for shifts. However, if you need additional assistance, please do not hesitate to contact: volunteering@dallas-habitat.org

  New Volunteers (if volunteered with Dallas Habitat before July 1, 2020, then a new account must be created).

  Please follow the instructions below to create your account, submit your background check, and sign up for your shift to volunteer.

  1. Please use the Volunteer Portal to create an account.  
  2. Once your account has been created, go to the following URL to complete your registration and background check: Complete Registration and Background Check Here 
  3. Background Checks will take 24-48 to process. So please completes it ASAP.
  4. After you have received an email from Sterling Volunteers informing you that your background check has been completed, you can click the following link to sign up for your shift: https://x.gldn.io/e/QvulD9gbAzb
  5. You should receive an email notification from Golden upon successful registration.  
  6. After you claim your account and complete the waivers, you will be able to see the volunteer opportunities.

  If you have additional questions, please contact:

  Volunteer Services Coordinator
  Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity

  E-mail:

  ireeves@dallas-habitat.org

  Website:

  https://dallasareahabitat.org/

Happy Hour at Windmills Brewery

TXAPA North Central Section is hosting a Happy Hour at Windmills Brewery on Tuesday, May 30th at 5 PM! We look forward to seeing you in Colony, TX!

APATX North Central Section Scholarship Opportunity

The APATX North Central Section scholarship is provided to help promote planning within the North Central Section of the Texas APA Chapter by providing partial funding to students enrolled in a university located within the North Central Section. It is anticipated that one (1) $1,000 student scholarship will be awarded and later recognized at the North Central Section Happy Hour.

APA_TX_North_Central_Scholarship_Application_2023_24.pdf (mcusercontent.com) 

AICP EXAM PART I WORKSHOP

Saturday, January 28, 2023

1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

University of Texas at Arlington

CAPPA Building Auditorium

Room 204

Hosted by the University of Texas at Arlington, College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs

Registration fee: Free of charge

Workshop Presenters:

Richard E. Luedke, AICP, City of Lewisville, APA Texas PDO

Eleana Tuley, AICP, City of Waxahachie, APA Texas North Central Section

Jenny Crosby, AICP, City of Southlake, APA Texas Midwest Section

The AICP Exam Part I Workshop will provide an overview of what to expect from the AICP Exam. We will cover helpful tips on how to study and test taking strategies. The major topic areas of the exam will be outlined and sample test questions will be presented.

To register, please send your name, email address and phone number to:

Richard Luedke, AICP

Texas Chapter Professional Development Officer

rluedke@cityoflewisville.com

(817) 938-4409

AICP EXAM PART II WORKSHOP

The AICP Exam Part II Workshop is conducted by Dr. Jennifer Cowley, FAICP, the nation's leading AICP exam preparation instructor, and Richard Luedke, AICP, Texas Chapter Professional Development Officer (PDO). During this 6-hour workshop, Dr. Cowley and Mr. Luedke will take you on a deep dive on how to approach the questions on the AICP exam and will guide you through the thought process needed to select the correct answers.

Saturday, February 25, 2023, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.at UT Arlington; CAPPA Building Auditorium Room 204

Registration Fee: $60 (includes lunch)

Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aicp-exam-part-ii-workshop-tickets-515360506147

Young Professionals Society Fair

Calling all transportation professionals in the DFW area! Want to increase your network with others in the industry? Looking to join an organization related to your career interests but don't know where to start? If so, you’re in luck-- HNTB is excited to host their first Young Professionals Society Fair on Tuesday, February 28th at their Plano office. 

Join local planning pride for an engaging panel discussion and open-house style event where you can network with like-minded colleagues and learn about the great organizations in North Texas. See details below for the day-of agenda, location, and free registration. 

5:00-5:30PM Networking and Happy Hour

5:30-6:15PM Panel Discussion 

6:15-7:30PM Booth Visits with Organizations

CAPPA Career Fair || Save the Date + Application

We are excited to share the information packet for our upcoming in-person CAPPA Career Fair on March 8th from 10a-4p.
The registration link is provided below:
2023 CAPPA Career Fair - Firm Registration
https://secure.touchnet.net:443/C21611_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=1302&FROMQRCODE=true&SINGLESTORE=true     
Please note we are using a different platform this year to ensure your firm is registered for the Career Fair and payments have been made, and let us know if we should reach out to another representative at your firm.
Point of contact:
Irene Vu
AIAS President || SPA VP of Community Development
MArch + MCRP Student
Email: irene.vu@uta.edu

Career Fair Packet

Lattes & Leadership with Richard Gertson, FAICP

Join us on the second floor of Arlington’s Inclusion Coffee for Lattes & Leadership with Richard Gertson, FAICP!

Richard Gertson, FAICP, has been a planning and public management professional for 45 years. He started as a planner with the City of Galveston, and after completing graduate school, served nearly 20 years as the city manager or city attorney in various Oklahoma communities. Since 2000, Richard has worked in Texas as the planner director for the cities of Abilene and Mesquite. He is currently the Assistant Director of Planning and Development Services in Arlington. Richard has a bachelor’s in Environmental Design from Texas A&M, and a juris doctor and master’s in Urban Planning from the University of Iowa. In 2022, he was inducted into the AICP College of Fellows for his accomplishments in comprehensive and downtown planning, revitalization, affordable housing, and growth management. Richard is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at UTA where he teaches Plan Implementation, Zoning and Regulations.

Organized by the Midwest Section of APA TX, Lattes and Leadership is a free opportunity for planners from all experience levels to meet and discuss trending planning topics the region’s best and brightest. Don’t expect a pre-set agenda, presentations, or speeches at Lattes and Leadership! You will be part of a round table discussion in a relaxed environment.

Parking: Free parking is available on the first floor of 101 Center’s Parking Garage. Free on-street (back-in) parking is also available on all block faces of 101 Center. Additional free parking can be found north of the Library across from Mellow Mushroom.

Flyer

Save the Date | Happy Hour at Bishop Arts

TXAPA North Central Section is hosting a Happy Hour at Bishop Arts on Thursday, March 23rd at 5:30pm! We look forward to seeing you in Dallas, TX! 

Flyer

Reshaping the City: Zoning for a More Equitable, Sustainable, and Resilient Future | Urban Land Institute (uli.org)

Learn from cross-sector experts about opportunities related to updating zoning in communities across the United States. The webinar will, 1) highlight connections among traditional zoning and land use challenges cities and towns are grappling with today, 2) make the case for updating zoning policies to support health, social equity, climate action, and resilience—with a focus on aligning zoning with community priorities and real estate development objectives, and 3) share promising examples of zoning policy updates from across the United States. This webinar will be co-hosted by Smart Growth America.

CM Opportunity | Ethics in Planning Study Foundations: Planning Outcomes, Practices, and Plagiarism

The session will be held in-person on Tuesday, April 18 at WSP’s Dallas Office (3102 Oak Lawn Ave, Suite 450) at 6:00 p.m. For additional information and to RSVP, please contact Staron Faucher. Happy hour refreshments will be provided.

Ethics:

The AICP Ethics Committee has had several cases in the past year dealing with plagiarism. Based on the cases, AICP members have had difficulty discerning what is and is not plagiarism is in the planning profession.

Session Description: Putting the AICP Code of Ethics into practice in the development of planning documents and presentations, including planning study outcomes, external impacts, and plagiarism.

Flyer

APATX Involvement Webinar

The nomination window for Chapter/Section positions is now open! Join Heather Nick (APATX President) and Kelly Porter (President-Elect) for a webinar to highlight the open Chapter/Sections positions and other volunteer opportunities, including a live Q&A. Please don’t miss this opportunity to hear from Chapter leadership about how YOU can be a part of the APATX initiatives and leadership too!

📅 Friday, April 21 at 12pm

RSVP on Zoom: Meeting Registration - Zoom

Earth Day Service Day at Bexar Street Farm

In celebration of Earth Day, TXAPA North Central Section is organizing a community service event on Saturday, April 22nd, from 9AM to 12PM at Bonton Farms (6915 Bexar St, Dallas, TX 75215, USA)!

What will we be doing? Daily farm chores play a crucial role in keeping us on track to produce and sell food for those who need it. During your time on the farm, you can expect to help with the following types of chores:

• Cleaning out dirty chicken coops

• Weeding and watering

• Helping plant new crops

• Adding compost or mulch to crop rows

By singing up for this opportunity, we respectfully ask that you come ready to work and get your hands dirty! We are a real, working farm!

What should you wear?

• Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty

• Short or long-sleeve t-shirt (longer sleeves protect against bugs and the sun)

• Work pants or jeans

• Closed-toe boots (or other closed-toe shoes you don’t mind getting muddy)

• Hat and/or sunglasses

Need to know

• For their safety, children under 10 may NOT participate in volunteer activities.

• For their safety, minors (under 18) must be accompanied by a parent at all times.

• Every participant must be registered and approved for this project through VOMO in order to volunteer. There is a participation limit on this project. Additional guests will not be accommodated.

Sign Up Here: Earth Day Service Day at Bexar Street Farm | VOMO

GDPC | Hensley Field Master Plan

Register for the next GDPC breakfast meeting using the link below! Great insights will be provided for public and private practitioners, breakfast and parking provided. Feel free to contact Ruben Landa (Ruben.Landa@wsp.com) for any questions.

APATX State Planning Conference 

The APATX State Planning Conference attracts not only planners, but participants from diverse professions including engineers, architects, landscape architects, public health professionals, economists, attorneys, and appointed and elected officials. APATX⋆23 is poised to continue the energy and excitement of past conferences and will be held in person November 8-10 in Corpus Christi!

Home - APATX⋆23 State Planning Conference (cvent.com)

#FNT23 Event Rescheduled

Focus North Texas (FNT) is a one-day symposium providing training and continuing education relating to city planning focused in the DFW region. #FNT2023 will be held on Friday, May 12th, 2023, at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas. More details to come: https://www.focusnorthtexas.com/

Application Window is OPEN for the 2023 APATX Leadership Academy Cohort

The APATX Leadership Academy is a world-class leadership development experience designed by leadership experts in the American Planning Association Texas Chapter. Join the inaugural cohort of the APATX Leadership Academy to become transformative leaders in the planning profession, your organization, and your community.

The 2023 APATX Leadership Academy Cohort includes leadership training and assessments, seminars by Texas and national experts focused on leadership development, communication and public engagement training and coaching, and much more. The future of planning in communities across Texas requires a well-trained and supported leadership. The APATX Leadership Academy is designed to create a dynamic network of future leaders committed to promoting the planning profession in Texas communities.

The APA Texas Chapter invites you to apply to be part of the of 2023 APATX Leadership Academy Cohort. Applications are due on or before Friday, May 12, 2023.

If you have any questions, please email Fred Lopez, FAICP CTP, APATX Leadership Academy Chair, at fred.lopez@qeceng.com.

Application form: https://texas.planning.org/membership/apatx-leadership-academy/

Section Elections are coming up this May! If you are interested in a leadership opportunity and chance to serve on the North Central Section Board, nominate yourself or someone you think would be a great fit. Elected and appointed positions are listed below.

Elected positions:

• Director-Elect
• Secretary
• Treasurer 

Appointed positions:

• Communications Coordinator
• Professional Development Officer
• Networking Coordinator
• Focus North Texas Chair
• Emerging Planning Leaders Representative
• Student Representative

Chapter and Section officer nominations are OPEN NOW through May 1. Elections will be held August 10 through September 8. Please contact Staron Faucher at staron.faucher@wsp.com for any questions.

Nomination form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeRwSRihahb3X04BJ9SrL2GAsRN7xSJ8mcZLRDsfU-eVixieg/viewform 

APATX North Central Section is looking for subcommittee volunteers. Subcommittees include Social Activities; Community Service; Educational/Professional Development; and Focus North Texas. We encourage section members from all backgrounds to apply.